World Habitat Day is 7 October and so we pay tribute today to some of South Africa’s phenomenal natural habitats. From savanna and grasslands, arid Karoo and Kalahari, to coastal regions, wetlands and forests, South Africa has an enormous amount of biodiversity and beauty to showcase.

Savanna is an iconic South African habitat, areas where our large mammals roam and where visitors come for unforgettable wildlife safaris. A savanna landscape is characterized by a mix of grasslands and scattered trees, such as acacias, marula, mopane and knobthorn.

Inyati Game Lodge enjoys a classic savanna landscape, surrounded by grasslands dotted with acacias and bushwillows. Wildlife viewing is outstanding on this kind of terrain, which supports large herds of herbivores like impala, buffalo, and elephants, as well as predators like lions and leopards that hunt in this habitat.

Grasslands, known also as veld in South Africa, cover a large part of the country, especially the Highveld region. Dominated by grasses, this type of habitat has few trees and shrubs, and is known for supporting herbivores like wildebeest, blesbok, and springbok, as well as bird species such as the blue crane. 

Welgevonden Private Game Reserve is one of the regions in South Africa where grasslands occur. Ekuthuleni Lodge is set in a part of Welgevonden that overlooks open grasslands, offering sweeping views and excellent wildlife viewing.

Fynbos is a unique type of plant-land found in the Western Cape. It is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of the world’s smallest but richest plant kingdoms. Fynbos also supports Cape sugarbirds, bontebok, and the endangered geometric tortoise. Cape Peninsula and Garden Route. 

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is a majestic eco-reserve set above Walker Bay, between mountains, fynbos, forest and sea. Fynbos excursions reveal the splendour of this biome.

The Karoo is a semi-desert region divided into the Great and Little Karoo. It is characterized by arid, rocky landscapes with hardy shrubs and occasional grassy patches. Animals found here include the Karoo bustard, gemsbok, and small reptiles. 

Samara Private Game Reserve is situated in the Great Karoo near Graaff-Reinet. The vast 70,000-acre reserve is set amid hardy, semi-desert plains and mountains. Guests can walk-and-stalk the highly endangered cheetah, explore Karoo plains viewing magnificent herds of antelope, delight in the mountain plateau where Cape Mountain Zebra have found safety, view fossils predating the dinosaurs, as well as ancient Bushman paintings.

The Kalahari Desert stretches across South Africa’s northern borders, shared with Botswana and Namibia. It is a semi-arid region with sandy soil and sparse vegetation, and known for meerkats, lions, and antelope species like gemsbok and springbok, as well as desert-adapted predators such as the brown hyena.

Tutwa Desert Lodge is located in the Green Kalahari region, on the fringes of the Kalahari – a transition zone that shares several characteristics with the Kalahari, such as arid conditions, sparse vegetation, and a rugged landscape. The area is part of the broader Kalahari ecosystem, even though not in the heart of the Kalahari Desert.The lodge also enjoys exclusive frontage onto the Orange River. For a true Kalahari experience, Tswalu Kalahari is an outstanding choice.

Coastal and Marine Habitats in South Africa encompass more than 2,500 km along the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and support diverse marine ecosystems and coastal vegetation. Marine life includes southern right whales, great white sharks, seals, numerous fish and seabirds. Coastal dunes and wetlands host species like the African penguin and flamingo.

Thonga Beach Lodge at Mabibi Bay is situated in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a vast protected area along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal. At Thonga guests can enjoy marine activities such as snorkeling, turtle tracking, diving and ocean safaris.

Indigenous Forests in South Africa are lush and dense, containing trees such as  yellowwoods and ironwoods. The forests are home to birds such as the Knysna turaco, as well as bushbuck, vervet monkeys, and rare butterflies. 

getaways in iconic natural habitats in south africa
Tsala Treetop Lodge is tucked away in an indigenous forest on the Garden Route, between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.

Mail us to book your getaway in South Africa, or speak to us on +27 21 797 7122.